Overview
Styling can make an Argument Visualization map easier to read and help readers distinguish between different parts of an argument.
You can customize the canvas, set separate colors for supporting points and objections, highlight the root node, and adjust the text of individual elements. These options let you emphasize the structure of an argument without changing its meaning.
Open the styling options
To customize the appearance of an Argument Visualization map:
- Click the Customize layout & style icon at the top-left corner.
- Open Color.
The available color options for Argument Visualization are different from those available for Standard Mindmup and Org Chart maps. You can customize the canvas, support colors, objection colors, and level overrides.
Customize the canvas
The Canvas settings control the background of your argument map.
You can:
- Reset the canvas.
- Choose a background color.
- Upload a background image.
- Select a color from the color options.
- Use the color swatch to choose a color.
- Enter a hex code for a specific color.
- Apply the color in this map.
A simple background can help keep the argument easy to read, while a more distinctive background may be useful when presenting or sharing a map.
Customize support colors
Argument Visualization lets you style supporting points separately from objections.
Under Support colors, you can customize:
- Text color
- Fill color
- Border color
This makes it easier to identify the points that support an argument as you scan the map.
Customize objection colors
You can also give objections their own visual treatment.
Under Objection colors, you can customize:
- Text color
- Fill color
- Border color
Using a distinct style for objections can help readers quickly recognize challenges to the argument and distinguish them from supporting points.
Highlight the root node
Use Level overrides when you want to give the root node a different color from the rest of the map.
You can choose a color using the available color options, color swatch, or hex code and apply it in the current map.
This can help make the main claim easier to identify when an argument contains many supporting points and objections.
Customize individual text
You can also style the text of individual elements in an Argument Visualization map.
Select the text element you want to customize, then use the available text options to change:
- Font style
- Font size
- Text color
- Text style
Font sizes range from XS (11) through XL (20), with a custom size option. Text styles include bold, italic, underline, and strikethrough.
This is useful when you want to emphasize a particular claim, reason, objection, or inference label without changing the styling of the entire map.
Style inference labels
The Because and But labels help show the relationship between points in an argument.
You can select these labels and apply text styling to them, including font style, font size, text color, and text style.
Styling these labels can make the reasoning structure easier to follow, particularly in a detailed argument map.
Choose a consistent visual structure
When styling an argument map, use color to reinforce the structure rather than distract from it.
For example, you can use one visual treatment for supporting points and another for objections. Keep the canvas relatively simple so that the distinction between these elements remains clear.
If you highlight the root node, use a style that makes it easy to identify without competing with the support and objection colors.
The goal is to make the logic of the argument easier to scan at a glance.
Reset your styling
If you want to return the map to its default styling, use Reset styling.
This is useful when you have experimented with different colors or styling options and want to start over without manually changing each setting.
Tips for styling argument maps
- Use different colors for supporting points and objections so readers can distinguish them quickly.
- Keep the canvas background simple enough that text remains easy to read.
- Use Level overrides to make the root node stand out when the map becomes large.
- Use individual text styling sparingly to emphasize important points.
- Keep the overall visual treatment consistent so the colors communicate meaning throughout the map.
- Use Reset styling if your customizations make the map harder to read.
Related features
- How to Use Argument Visualization
- How to Customize Map Colors
- How to Customize Text
- How to Customize Map Layout
- How to Reset Styling
Make your argument easier to follow
Use color and text styling to make the structure of your argument clearer. Give supporting points and objections distinct visual treatments, highlight the main claim when needed, and keep the overall design simple enough that the reasoning remains the focus.
Create your own Argument Visualization map and start styling your argument.